Posted by Ken Herrick on May 12, 2001 at 06:08:27:
In Reply to: buying a new tuba - part II posted by Richard Evans on May 12, 2001 at 05:21:09:
G'day Richard,
From what you say about the playing you are doing I would personally recommend that you stick with a good Eb. If you later find that you want /need something with more bottom end, like if you one day win an orchestra job and NEED a big CC, or BBb for that matter, you can get one then. I have used old B&H Imperial Eb instruments and frankly they were a lot of fun to play. THe new instruments have a better all-round capability with improved bottom end performance, but in some ways they just are not as much fun to play. Living in UK you should be able to find a good Besson or other Eb for a good price, well with-in your price range. Thennnnnnnnnn, go practice like mad, win some solo commps, play in all the different types of groups you can, including Brass Bands, go on to college and one day, who knows, you might be the next Fletch. Find a good dealer in your area and try several horns and be prepared to try different mouthpieces. Once you have found something good, which suits you, ignore what anybody else says for a while about one brand being better than another until you and the equipment "adapt" to each other then they can compare you and other players and argue over which is better. Top or front action is purely preference. If you are doing Brass band, meet your fellow players in other bands and try their instruments. Don't be in too big a hurry to buy or be too influenced by somebody saying "...brand Z front action with purple painted spit valve corks is the only way to go. Then when you are playing well and getting the best out of yourself and the instrument you can ignore them all again and challenge them to enter the same comp you are going to win. Oh yes, find a good teacher. If the teacher happens to be connected to a good con, well you might be headed right down the path to success.
Good luck, good music, and have fun.